Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives ( specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Existence and Location of Copies

At the time the bulk of the collection was donated in 2021, a CD containing digital surrogates of many items was included. Some of this collection has been digitized and is available online.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], A. J. Davis Family Collection, Ms2012-067, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The A. J. Davis Collection was deposited in Special Collections in August 2012. In November 2021, additional materials relating to A. J. Davis and his family were donated to Special Collections and University Archives. At that time, the previously deposited materials were also donated.

Processing Information

The processing (including the re-housing of the scrapbook in its original order), arrangement, and description of the A. J. Davis Collection was completed in November 2012. Additional materials were integrated in January 2022.

Biographical Note

Albert John Davis was born in 1854. He enlisted with the U. S. Army Cavalry (7th Regiment?) at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1876. He spent most of his early military career in the Dakota territories, at Fort Rice and Fort Lincoln, eventually serving for an officer (Colonel Otis) and for the Quartermaster. In 1881, he was able to secure a transfer to the Signal Corps. During the 1880s and 1890s, he served with the Signal Corps and the U. S. Cavalry. By 1897, he was assigned to the Weather Bureau (later the National Weather Service), eventually settling in Norfolk by 1904. He retired in 1924. Davis died on November 16, 1935.

External Source:

National Weather Service Biographies, NOAA History, http://www.history.noaa.gov/nwsbios/nwsbios_page15.html, archived online at https://web.archive.org/web/20130220135209/www.history.noaa.gov/nwsbios/nwsbios_page15.html , accessed June 22, 2023.

Scope and Content

The A. J. Davis Family Collection includes journals; scrapbooks; professional and biographical information; photographs, sketches, and ephemera; and a town history. The journals (1874-1927) contain memoirs, particularly of Davis' army experiences, as well as some writing exercises, poetry, stories, and religious observations. Scrapbooks compiled by A. J. Davis include newspaper clippings, personal reflections, and a stamp collection. The professional and biographical information includes service records from Davis' time in the army, genealogy information compiled by other family members, and last wills and testaments. The collection also includes a 19-page history of Woods Hole, Massachusetts, authored by Davis, as well as a draft of the Book of A. J. Davis and other manuscripts. The collection also contain pictures of Davis and family members. Various objects such as wooden writing desks and army ephemera are included.

Arrangement

After new materials were donated in 2021, this collection was reprocessed as a whole. The collection is arranged into two series by material type.

Series I: Personal Papers is divided further into subseries by topic. The subseries are then arranged in folders by subject. This series includes materials like journals, scrapbooks, legal documents, writings, and genealogy information.

Series II: Objects is made up of artifacts and objects associated with Davis and members of his family. This includes, but is not limited to, writing desks, a riding crop, and a compass.

Separated Material

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
• United States. Army

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the A. J. Davis Family Collection by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).